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א Aleph

1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,who walk according to the law of the Lord.2 Blessed are those who keep his statutesand seek him with all their heart—3 they do no wrongbut follow his ways.4 You have laid down preceptsthat are to be fully obeyed.5 Oh, that my ways were steadfastin obeying your decrees!6 Then I would not be put to shamewhen I consider all your commands.7 I will praise you with an upright heartas I learn your righteous laws.8 I will obey your decrees;do not utterly forsake me.

ב Beth

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?By living according to your word.10 I seek you with all my heart;do not let me stray from your commands.11 I have hidden your word in my heartthat I might not sin against you.12 Praise be to you, Lord;teach me your decrees.13 With my lips I recountall the laws that come from your mouth.14 I rejoice in following your statutesas one rejoices in great riches.15 I meditate on your preceptsand consider your ways.16 I delight in your decrees;I will not neglect your word.

ג Gimel

17 Be good to your servant while I live,that I may obey your word.18 Open my eyes that I may seewonderful things in your law.19 I am a stranger on earth;do not hide your commands from me.20 My soul is consumed with longingfor your laws at all times.21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed,those who stray from your commands.22 Remove from me their scorn and contempt,for I keep your statutes.23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,your servant will meditate on your decrees.24 Your statutes are my delight;they are my counselors.

ד Daleth

25 I am laid low in the dust;preserve my life according to your word.26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;teach me your decrees.27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.28 My soul is weary with sorrow;strengthen me according to your word.29 Keep me from deceitful ways;be gracious to me and teach me your law.30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;I have set my heart on your laws.31 I hold fast to your statutes, Lord;do not let me be put to shame.32 I run in the path of your commands,for you have broadened my understanding.

ה He

33 Teach me,Lord, the way of your decrees,that I may follow it to the end.[b]34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your lawand obey it with all my heart.35 Direct me in the path of your commands,for there I find delight.36 Turn my heart toward your statutesand not toward selfish gain.37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;preserve my life according to your word.[c]38 Fulfill your promise to your servant,so that you may be feared.39 Take away the disgrace I dread,for your laws are good.40 How I long for your precepts!In your righteousness preserve my life.

ו Waw

41 May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,your salvation, according to your promise;42 then I can answer anyone who taunts me,for I trust in your word.43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth,for I have put my hope in your laws.44 I will always obey your law,for ever and ever.45 I will walk about in freedom,for I have sought out your precepts.46 I will speak of your statutes before kingsand will not be put to shame,47 for I delight in your commandsbecause I love them.48 I reach out for your commands, which I love,that I may meditate on your decrees.

ז Zayin

49 Remember your word to your servant,for you have given me hope.50 My comfort in my suffering is this:Your promise preserves my life.51 The arrogant mock me unmercifully,but I do not turn from your law.52 I remember,Lord, your ancient laws,and I find comfort in them.53 Indignation grips me because of the wicked,who have forsaken your law.54 Your decrees are the theme of my songwherever I lodge.55 In the night, Lord, I remember your name,that I may keep your law.56 This has been my practice:I obey your precepts.

ח Heth

57 You are my portion,Lord;I have promised to obey your words.58 I have sought your face with all my heart;be gracious to me according to your promise.59 I have considered my waysand have turned my steps to your statutes.60 I will hasten and not delayto obey your commands.61 Though the wicked bind me with ropes,I will not forget your law.62 At midnight I rise to give you thanksfor your righteous laws.63 I am a friend to all who fear you,to all who follow your precepts.64 The earth is filled with your love,Lord;teach me your decrees.

ט Teth

65 Do good to your servantaccording to your word,Lord.66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment,for I trust your commands.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,but now I obey your word.68 You are good, and what you do is good;teach me your decrees.69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,I keep your precepts with all my heart.70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,but I delight in your law.71 It was good for me to be afflictedso that I might learn your decrees.72 The law from your mouth is more precious to methan thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

י Yodh

73 Your hands made me and formed me;give me understanding to learn your commands.74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,for I have put my hope in your word.75 I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.76 May your unfailing love be my comfort,according to your promise to your servant.77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live,for your law is my delight.78 May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;but I will meditate on your precepts.79 May those who fear you turn to me,those who understand your statutes.80 May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees,that I may not be put to shame.

כ Kaph

81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation,but I have put my hope in your word.82 My eyes fail, looking for your promise;I say, “When will you comfort me?”83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,I do not forget your decrees.84 How long must your servant wait?When will you punish my persecutors?85 The arrogant dig pits to trap me,contrary to your law.86 All your commands are trustworthy;help me, for I am being persecuted without cause.87 They almost wiped me from the earth,but I have not forsaken your precepts.88 In your unfailing love preserve my life,that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.

Footnotes:

Psalm 119:1This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet; moreover, the verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

Concerning the Unmarried

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong[a] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing.38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.[b]

39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes:

1 Corinthians 7:38Or 36 If anyone thinks he is not treating his daughter properly, and if she is getting along in years (or if her passions are too strong), and he feels she ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.